Anthurium plant named ‘VR 151’

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of Anthurium plant named ‘VR 151’, characterized by its upright and outwardly spreading plant habit; freely clumping growth habit; durable dark green leaves; pink and green bi-colored spathes with creamy white-colored spadices that are positioned above and beyond the foliage on strong and erect scapes; freely flowering habit; and good inflorescence longevity.

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION/CULTIVAR DESIGNATION

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofAnthurium plant, botanically known as Anthurium andreanum, andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘VR 151’.

The new Anthurium is a product of a planned breeding program conductedby the Inventor in Schipluiden, The Netherlands. The objective of theprogram is to create and develop new compact, freely clumping and freelyflowering Anthurium cultivars with strong roots, dark green leaves,attractive spathe color, and good inflorescence longevity.

The new Anthurium originated from a cross by the Inventor in January,1998 of the Anthurium andreanum cultivar Lady Love, disclosed in U.S.Plant Pat. No. 11,661, as the female, or seed, parent with the Anthuriumandreanum selection number 97-15, not patented, as the male, or pollen,parent. The cultivar VR 151 was discovered and selected by the Inventoras a plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlledenvironment in Schipluiden, The Netherlands in 1999.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar by meristem culture in alaboratory in Belgium has shown that the unique features of this newAnthurium plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations of asexual propagation.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new Anthurium has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations inenvironment such as temperature and light intensity, without, however,any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of the cultivar VR 151. Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish ‘VR 151’ as a new anddistinct cultivar:

1. Upright and outwardly spreading plant habit.

2. Freely clumping growth habit.

3. Durable dark green leaves.

4. Pink and green bi-colored spathes with creamy white-colored spadicesthat are positioned above and beyond the foliage on strong and erectscapes.

5. Freely flowering habit.

6. Good inflorescence longevity.

Plants of the new Anthurium can be compared to plants of the femaleparent, the cultivar Lady Love. In side-by-side comparisons conducted inSchipluiden, The Netherlands, plants of the new Anthurium differed fromplants of the cultivar Lady Love in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Anthurium had flatter leaves and spathes thanplants of the cultivar Lady Love.

2. Plants of the new Anthurium and the cultivar Lady Love differed inspathe form and color.

Plants of the new Anthurium can be compared to plants of the maleparent, the selection 97-15. In side-by-side comparisons conducted inSchipluiden, The Netherlands, plants of the new Anthurium differed fromplants of the selection 97-15 in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Anthurium were more compact than plants of theselection 97-15.

2. Plants of the new Anthurium were more freely branching than plants ofthe selection 97-15.

3. Plants of the new Anthurium had smaller leaves and smaller spathesthan plants of the selection 97-15.

4. Plants of the new Anthurium had pink and green bi-colored spatheswhereas plants of the selection 97-15 had white-colored spathes.

Plants of the new Anthurium can also be compared to plants of thecultivar Baby Pink, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,469. Inside-by-side comparisons conducted in Schipluiden, The Netherlands,plants of the new Anthurium differed from plants of the cultivar BabyPink in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Anthurium were larger and not as freely branchingthan plants of the cultivar Baby Pink.

2. Plants of the new Anthurium differed from plants of the cultivar BabyPink in leaf shape and spathe color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Anthurium, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Anthurium.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of the cultivar VR 151.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet comprises a close-up viewof a typical inflorescence of ‘VR 151’.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet comprises a close-upview of the upper surface of a typical mature leaf of ‘VR 151’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The aforementionedphotographs and the following observations and measurements describethree-year old plants grown in containers in Schipluiden, TheNetherlands, in a glass greenhouse with an average day temperature of25° C. and an average night temperature of 19° C.

Botanical classification: Anthurium andreanum cultivar VR 151.

Parentage:

Female parent.—Anthurium andreanum cultivar Lady Love, disclosed in U.S.Plant Pat. No. 11,661.

Male parent.—Anthurium andreanum selection number 97-15, not patented.

Propagation:

Method.—By meristem culture.

Time to develop roots on a meristem-cultured plant.—Summer: About 70days at 24° C. Winter: About 84 days at 21° C.

Root description.—Strong fleshy roots.

Plant description:

Plant shape.—Upright and outwardly spreading plant habit, invertedtriangle, symmetrical.

Growth habit.—Freely clumping, bushy and dense growth habit. Appropriatefor 9 to 30-cm containers. Vigorous.

Plant height.—About 75 to 80 cm.

Plant diameter or spread.—About 105 cm.

Crop time.—About 10 months are usually required from planting of youngplants to finished plants in a 17-cm container.

Foliage description.—Quantity per plant: More than 100. Length: About 12to 14 cm. Width: About 9 to 11 cm. Shape: Deltoid. Apex: Apiculate.Base: Cordate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:Leather; glabrous, smooth. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Color: Youngleaves, upper surface: Between 143A and 146A. Young leaves, lowersurface: 146B to 146C. Mature leaves, upper surface: 147A. Matureleaves, lower surface: 146B. Venation, upper and lower surfaces: 144A.Petiole: Length: About 20 to 35 cm. Color: 144A. Geniculum length: About1 to 2 cm. Geniculum color: 144B.

Inflorescence description:

Inflorescence arrangement.—Spathes with spadices held above and beyondthe foliage. Flowering structures arise from leaf axils. Freely andcontinuous flowering year-round; typically more than 25 inflorescencesper plant at one time.

Inflorescence longevity.—Inflorescences last about six weeks underwinter conditions and about three months under summer conditions;persistent.

Spathe.—Length: About 6 to 8 cm. Width: About 10 to 14 cm. Shape:Deltoid to cordate. Apex: Cuspidate to mucronulate. Base: Cordate toacute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Leathery;glabrous, smooth. Color: When opening, front and back surfaces: 39B;glossy. Fully developed, front surface: Center, 38B; towards themargins, 137B. Fully opened, back surface: Center, 38C; towards themargins, 144A.

Spadix.—Length: About 3 to 6 cm. Diameter: About 8 to 10 mm. Shape:Columnar. Cross section: Rounded. Longitudinal axis: Weakly curved.Color: Close to 159A; becoming green, 144A, with subsequent development.

Flowers.—Quantity per spadix: Numerous, about 150. Shape: Rounded.Diameter: About 1 mm, maximum.

Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Pollen color: 158D. Gynoecium: Stigmashape: Ovoid.

Scape.—Length: About 30 cm. Aspect: Strong and erect. Color: 144A.

Seed/fruit.—Seed/fruit development on plants of the new Anthurium hasnot been observed.

Disease/pest resistance: Under commercial conditions, plants of the newAnthurium have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens or pestscommon to Anthurium.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Anthurium plant named‘VR 151’, as illustrated and described.